Program Events
AY26/27 Cohort 1 — Sprint sessions, deliverables, and key milestones.
Upcoming Events
Acceptance Letters Sent
Successful applicants for AY26/27 Cohort 1 are notified by email, along with onboarding details ahead of the kickoff.
Program Kickoff
The official start of the cohort. BIUST kicks off on 31 August and the University of Botswana on 1 September, with introductions to the program structure, the mentors, and what is expected of teams.
Mentor Training 1
First mentor onboarding and training session, preparing mentors to guide teams through the sprint cycle.
Session 1 — Foundations
Introduction to core entrepreneurship concepts, team formation, and initial ideation. Teams define their problem statements and early startup concepts.
Mid-Term Break — UB
University of Botswana mid-term break. No MASA sessions are scheduled during this week.
Mid-Term Break — BIUST
BIUST mid-term break. No MASA sessions are scheduled during this week.
Session 2 — Validation
Teams learn how to test their assumptions and gather real-world feedback, working through hypothesis-driven thinking and lean startup methodology.
Deliverable: Assumptions FrameworkSession 3 — Engagement
Master the art of connecting with your target audience. This sprint focuses on customer discovery and communicating your value proposition effectively.
Deliverable: Customer InterviewsUB & BIUST Examinations
Reading week runs 9–13 November, followed by examinations from 13–25 November. The sprint schedule is built around this period.
Session 4 — Acceleration
The final sprint. Synthesise everything learned and prepare your startup pitch for investors, mentors, and the public. These dates are proposed and still to be confirmed.
Deliverable: Final Business PitchFunding Board
Teams present to the funding board for consideration of equity-free seed funding. The date will be announced once confirmed.
Mentor Training 2
Second mentor training session, scheduled between the sprint sessions. Date to be announced.
Mentor Training 3
Third mentor training session, scheduled between the sprint sessions. Date to be announced.
Mock Funding Round
Teams pitch for simulated seed funding in preparation for their first full session. Feedback from mentors used to refine ideas and team dynamics.
Session 1 — Foundations
Introduction to core entrepreneurship concepts, team formation, and initial ideation. Participants defined their problem statements and early startup concepts.
Session 2 — Validation
Teams learned how to test their assumptions and gather real-world feedback. Focus on hypothesis-driven thinking and lean startup methodology.
Deliverable: Assumptions FrameworkSession 3 — Engagement
Teams mastered the art of connecting with their target audience, working through customer discovery and learning to communicate their value proposition effectively.
Deliverable: Customer InterviewsSession 4 — Acceleration
The final sprint. Teams synthesised everything they had learned and pitched their startups to investors, mentors, and the public.
Deliverable: Final Business PitchInformation Session
A full overview of the program, the expectations on teams, and the application process, held online ahead of the AY26/27 Cohort 1 deadline.
Watch the recordingApplication Deadline
Applications for AY26/27 Cohort 1 closed. Thank you to every team that submitted a startup proposal.